Governor helps open county facilities

Governor Matt Mead made an appearance in Sweetwater County last week to celebrate the completion of several Sweetwater County facilities.

Mead flew to Southwest Wyoming Regional Airport near Rock Springs Wednesday and was present for a ribbon cutting on its new general aviation and hangar complex. According to Devon Brubaker, airport manager, nearly all of the funding for the complex came from state and federal sources, which totaled $5.78 million. The only local expenditures made by the airport was $30,000 to correct a septic system problem. The general aviation facility includes a pilot lounge and public meeting space, while the hanger contains 25,000 square feet of space to house aircraft.

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The facility receives 70 percent of its power from a 30 kilowatt solar array located behind the hangar, which is part of Rocky Mountain Power’s Blue Sky program.

“It’s a huge cost savings for our airport,” Brubaker said.

“This new facility will help support industry and economic development in the region for decades to come,” Rita Meyer, Rocky Mountain Power vice president said in a press release.

Mead said air service is critical in Wyoming and completion of the complex is confirmation that Wyoming is a state that can “get things done.”

“We can build our communities in our state because we’re a can-do state,” Mead said.

The airport has seen passenger increases during the last 18 months. In June, the airport served 4,412 passengers, up 44.32 percent from June 2017. The airport has served more than 21,000 passengers in 2018. According to a press release from the airport, the last time the airport served as many passengers was in 2012, when the economy was surging as part of the oil-and-gas boom in the county and the airport provided service from multiple airlines.

Justice center

Mead also visited the newly built Sweetwater County Justice Center during his tour Wednesday. The center was built to combine the county’s two circuit courts after then Chief Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court, Marylin Kite, said the condition of the Rock Springs Circuit Court needed to improve.

“It was evident something needed to be done,” Sweetwater County Commissioner John Kolb said.

The county funded a $22 million project to build a new court facility to combine the two circuit courts, which included a $3.8 million allocation from the Wyoming Legislature.

The new court facility includes space for two courts, as well as space for the Sweetwater County Sheriff’s Office, Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office and the public defenders’ office. Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell said the new space more than doubles the available space the sheriff’s office originally had.

The justice center also features secure corridors connecting to the Sweetwater County Detention Center, which allows for the transport of inmates to and from court. This saves money spent on physically transporting inmates to court appearances in Rock Springs or Green River. Wyoming Supreme Court Justice Keith Kautz said the justice center is both a tool to administer justice; and a symbol showing Sweetwater County residents believe in the phrase “liberty and justice for all.”

Mead, who was an attorney prior to becoming governor, said the circuit courtrooms are the most technologically advanced in the state.

Mead also praised the security in place at the justice center.